BCL congratulates our director Dame Carol Kidu on her recent appointment as Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of her distinguished service of a high degree to Australia and to humanity at large. The award is wonderful acknowledgement for Dame Carol’s long-standing commitment to human rights, community development and international relations. Dame Carol served as a member of the PNG parliament between 1997 and 2012, including as Minister for Community Development between 2002 and 2011 and also as leader of the opposition.
In her private capacity, Dame Carol has long advocated for the rights of women and children, including for the empowerment of women and support for women in pursuing leadership roles. She is a passionate advocate against domestic violence, for poverty alleviation and for efforts to address HIV and AIDS. Dame Carol has served on the BCL board since 2013 and we are all very proud of her achievements.